EXPLODE and XPLODE

What it does

• EXPLODE – breaks compound objects (block references, tables, multileaders, splines, blocks that came from a DWG) into plain lines and text. Nested blocks are broken one level at a time.
• XPLODE – explodes and also puts the resulting pieces on one layer or in one colour.

Where to find it

• Ribbon: Draw › Modify › Trim ▾ › Explode
• Command line: EXPLODE (alias X)
• Command line: XPLODE (alias XP)
• Right-click the selected object › Ungroup (Explode)

Steps

1. Select a block or compound object.
2. Type X and press Enter. The result reads, for example, EXPLODE: 1 object(s) -> 3 primitives.

Note: A block that was stretched with a dynamic parameter explodes into the shape currently shown, not the block's original shape.

Try it: PC case side panel with two fan grilles

An acrylic side panel with two 120 mm fan grilles. Make the grille a block so both copies stay identical, then EXPLODE the second one when it has to be different: here, an open centre for a logo badge.

1. Grille holes: centre C, 0,0, 10. Inner ring hole C, 0,25, 6. Outer ring hole C, 0,45, 5. Mounting hole C, 52.5,52.5, 2.25. Press Esc after each one.
2. Click the inner ring hole, type ARRAYPOLAR 8, then 0,0. Do the same for the outer ring hole with ARRAYPOLAR 16 and for the mounting hole with ARRAYPOLAR 4.
3. Drag a window around the whole grille (from -60,-60 to 60,60) and type BLOCK FAN 0 0. The result reads BLOCK: FAN defined from 29 object(s) ....
4. Second fan: type INSERT FAN 150 0.
5. Click the second grille, type X and press Enter. The result reads EXPLODE: 1 object(s) -> 29 primitives.
6. Drag a window around its centre (from 117,-33 to 183,33) and press Delete. Only this copy changes.
7. Panel outline: REC, -75,-75, @300,150.

Challenge: Try to delete one hole from the first fan without exploding it. A click selects the whole block, which is exactly why EXPLODE exists.

See also

• BLOCK, INSERT
• GROUP